in mice with coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced viral myocarditis through a comparative study with Carve-dilol.Methods 150 BALB/c male mice were divided into four groups including control group (n=30), myocarditis group (n=40), Ivabradine treatment group (n=40) and Carvedilol treatment group (n=40). Viral myocarditis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CVB 3 in experimental mice , while mice in the control group were injected with PBS accordingly .The mice in four groups were respectively administered with PBS, PBS, Ivabradine and Carvedilol after 24 h of infection for 14 consecutive days .Heart specimens were collected from 8 mice of each group on days 4, 7 and 14 after measuring their heart rates .The patho-logical changes in heart tissues were observed through hematoxylin e-osin staining .Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA were performed to detect the expressions of MCP -1, IL-6 and TNF-αat mRNA and protein lev-els.CVB3 RNA was quantified by semi-quantitative RT -PCR as well .Results Compared with myocarditis group, the histopathological damages in myocardium were significantly alleviated in both Ivabradine group and Carvedilol group on days 7 and 14.The expressions of MCP-1,IL-6 and TNF -αat mRNA level were up-regulated in mice treated with Ivabradine and Carvedilol as compared with those in control group .Compared with myocarditis group , the expressions of TNF-αon day4 and IL-6 on day 7 at mRNA level were reduced in Ivabradine and Carvedilol treatment groups .MCP-1 expression at mRNA level was only down-regulated in Iv-abradine group on day 7.Concluison Ivabradine treatment could alleviate histopathological damages in my -ocardium of mice with CVB3-induced viral myocarditis , which was similar to the effects of carvedilol treat-ment.The treatment effects might be associated with the down-regulation of expressions of IL-6, TNF-αand MCP-1 at mRNA and protein levels .

Objective To assess the efficacy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue(GnRHa)with or without recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH)treatment in Chinese short pubertal children with non-growth hormone deficiency.Methods Of 42 short pubertal children(14 males,28 females)without growth hormone deftcieney,the average age was(11.6±0.8)year.30 children were treated with slow release GnRHa with initial dose (100μg·kg-1·d-1,28d)and maintenance dose(60-80μg·kg-1·d-1,28d)labd rgGH with initial dose(0.15IU·kg-1·d-1)and maintenance dose(0.10-0.15IU·kg-1·d-1)for at least 1year.16 of them were still ongoing till the end of the second year.12 children were treated with GnRHa alone by initial dose(100μg·kg-1·d-1,28d)and maintenance dose (60-80μg·kg-1·d-1,28d),and 7 of them remained on it for 2 years.Dynamic changes including annual growth velocity(GV),bone age(BA)/chronologic age(CA)ratio,Tanner stage,height SDS for CA (HtSDSCA),height SDS for BA(HtSDSBA),and predicted adult height (PAHSDS)were observed.Results By the end of the first year tretment with combination therapy,the following parameters:GV,HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,and PAHSDS all increased significantly(all P<0.05).Treatment with GnRHa alone did not yield significant changes in GV,HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,and PAHSDS(all P>0.05).Changes in GV,HtSDSBA,and PAHSDS between these two groups were statistically significant(all P<0.05).By the end of the second year treatment,in the combination group,GV slowed from 6.7 to 5.5 cm/year(P<0.05).HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,PAHSDS increased(all P<0.05).In the group with GnRHa treatment alone,GV slowed from 4.0 to 3.6 cm/year(P>0.05).HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,PAHSDS increased(all P>0.05).Changes in GV,HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,and PAHSDS between these 2 groups were statistically significant respectively(all P<0.05).Conclusion This combined treatment regimen significantly impreved the growth by increasing growth rate and delaying bone matumtion in pubertal chidren without growth hormone deficiency.Further study is needed to verify beneficial effects on the final height gain.